In 2005, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), received over 685,000 complaints of consumer fraud and identity theft. Reported losses from fraud totaled more than $680 million. Protect yourself with information. Whether you are the victim of identity theft, or you just want to learn more, please visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft, an FTC website.

Here are some important tips to help protect your identity:

•  Never give out personal or account information unless you initiated the transaction and you    know who you are dealing with.

•  Never leave personal documents out in plain view.

•  Limit the cards, checks and identifying information you carry. Never carry Personal Identification    Numbers (PINs) or passwords.

•  Take receipts from ATMs, gasoline pumps and retail purchases.

•  Block the keypad whenever you enter your PIN

•  Protect your Social Security number. Never pre-print it on checks. Reveal it only when it is    absolutely necessary. Never use it on an unsecured website.

•  Do not place outgoing mail outside for the letter carrier to pick up. Pick up incoming mail as    soon as possible.

•  Create unique passwords, mixing letters, numbers and symbols. Never use easy-to-guess    passwords, such as birthdays or a pet's name. Change your passwords periodically.

•  Shred documents before disposing or recycling them. Use a cross-cut shredder for maximum    effectiveness. And completely destroy expiredor unneeded credit, debit, or ATM cards so that    numbers and the magnetic strip cannot be read.

•  Obtain your FREE annual credit report from the three national credit bureaus at    www.annualcreditreport.com. Review it carefully for mistakes and signs of fraudulent activity. You    can also request your credit report by calling 1–877–322–8228.

•  Check your Credit Union and credit card statements and bills regularly. Compare receipts to    your statements. Contact the Credit Union if your statement does not arrive on time.

•  Protect your computer with a firewall, along with anti-virus, anti-spam, and anti-spyware    software. Update your software regularly.

•  If you receive an email requesting personal information, delete it immediately. Do not click on    any links in such an email.

•  Check that you use secure websites for sensitive communications or transactions. When    entering the URL, look for the "s" in the "https" and the lock icon in the bottom right of the screen.

•  Clean the hard drive before discarding any personal computer.